286 Travels in Central Asia. [No. 3. 



Violent shock of earthquake ; earth split, &c. ; said to be not com- 

 mon. 



Cross a deep chasm by basket and rope, over the Chiganook or 

 Sir-i-Moon, being the source of the Morztab ; a perilous passage along 

 a cliff on pegs stuck in the rpck. 



Naeb Therman Khan's dwelling, Droo. Detained ; the direct road 

 ahead impassable by snow — might have retraced path to Chiga- 

 nook, and thence over hills to Den' Kush, the Ab-i-deb river, and so 

 to Balk. 



Strolled to rope-ladder bridge. 



23rd. — Garden of pomegranate and mulberry. 



24<th. — Visit the Mohcuns and alkaline lake. 



25th. — Propositions to depart ; old traditions. 



26th. — Leave Droo or Drohoo, due North ; deep chasms, pines in 

 (MS. illegible). 



Halted here. Hot-water spring at a Therba village; snow on 

 ground. 



27th. — N. E. 1ST. much snow ; bivouac under a crag. 



28th. — Drizzling and hot j still among snow ; great avalanches ; 

 grand panoramic view. 



Descend ; halt at some Therba huts called Nark, where some alter- 

 cation with slave-dealers. 



March 1st. — North : cross Siak river by rope-bridge ; deer numer- 

 ous ; halt in ravine. 



2nd. — Lose way, but reach ruins of Killi Kafir. 



3rd. — Description of ruins ; intricate ravines ; pass numerous 

 tunnels ; meet first Turkomans ; get horses there. 



4<th. — Try to join a Kafila of Nyha traders at Bilkrai. 



5th. — Therman Khan's son Ibrahim leaves them, arrangements 

 for going on. 



6th. — Join the caravan at Niok, a watering-station, five days 

 N. E. of Minnoo. 



7th. — Halted ; beds of shells ; hears news of his former companion, 

 M. Shrotzky. 



[Here occurs a break in the journal, a volume having been lost, 

 giving an account of his visit to Bokhara, and adventures there, 

 including a very dangerous illness.] 



